Depth: 3 - 80m.
From 3 to 80 meters.

Habitat: pelagic. Occurs mainly within 80 Km of coast, forming huge schools, chiefly in surface waters. A filter-feeder entirely dependent on the rich plankton of the Peruvian Current (where it occurs at temperatures ranging from 13-23 °C, Ref. 6). In some studies, diatoms constituted as much as 98% of the diet. Large populations of guano birds and pelicans also depends on this fish (Ref. 9988). Utilized as fish meal and oil (Ref. 9988).